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mama2many
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Posted: Jan 25 2011 at 11:46am \| IP Logged

I LOVE BOOKS... but the clutter is driving me bonkers.. what are your thoughts on a kindle?? Would it work at all with any of the CHC ebooks??

I also like the ability to read one handed while nursing!! LOL

The one thing that I'm bummed about is the picture books. But the color nook is almost $300!!

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jillian
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Posted: Jan 25 2011 at 3:15pm \| IP Logged

I love my kindle. I don't know if it'll work with the CHC books, I would email CHC and check with them though.

folklaur
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Posted: Jan 25 2011 at 4:04pm \| IP Logged

I got a Nook for my birthday (with a cover so it still feels similar to a book in my hands - I needed that) and I love it. Love love love it. And I wasn't sure I was going to. But I do. (not the color one tho.)

I finally decided I wanted Nook as opposed to Kindle (because OH I was having a hard time picking!) because:

Nook works with Library Books - THIS was the major decider for me.
Nook has an expansion card slot.
Nook lets you change the battery yourself if it needs it, where Kindle you had to send it back to Amazon.

Willa
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Posted: Jan 28 2011 at 2:20pm \| IP Logged

I got a Kindle when the price came down -- the price difference was the major decider for me.

I don't know if it works with CHC. With Calibre, though, I can convert most PDFs and Epubs over to Kindle format.

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aforb001
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Posted: Jan 28 2011 at 7:52pm \| IP Logged

I got a kindle when the price came down also, and I love it! I take it everywhere. It is so much more convenient than carrying a book. And I haven't spent any money on books. There's so much free stuff out there. My son has read Pinocchio on my kindle and loved it.

Adele

Willa
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Posted: Jan 29 2011 at 2:35pm \| IP Logged

aforb001 wrote:

And I haven't spent any money on books. There's so much free stuff out there. My son has read Pinocchio on my kindle and loved it.

Same here with the free books -- it's wonderful! I am trying to find the various Ambleside selections and import them to the Kindle.

My son read Alice in Wonderland on the Kindle and is now reading Adventures of Mr Toad

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Tina P.
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Posted: Feb 09 2011 at 11:43am \| IP Logged

Am I the only old-fashioned one here who actually likes the feel of a book in one's hands? Turning pages? I agree, they do tend to clutter the house. This summer my house is under the declutter microscope. We're only keeping the cream of the crop. But I'll keep books any day over a Kindle or Nook (hadn't even heard of that one 'til now).

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JennGM
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Posted: Feb 09 2011 at 11:49am \| IP Logged

Tina P. wrote:

I'm right there with you, Tina. I told my husband last night that I find seeing a Kindle or one of these being read "disturbing." Yes, I used that word. It goes against every part of me.

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Erin
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Posted: Feb 09 2011 at 2:00pm \| IP Logged

We bought a Kobo for our dd17, we have many, many books and she still does and always will prefer the 'real McCoy' however she reads alot of OOP books online and this was the solution to helping save her eyes.

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allegiance_mom
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Posted: Feb 09 2011 at 6:49pm \| IP Logged

JennGM wrote:

Tina P. wrote:

I'm right there with you, Tina. I told my husband last night that I find seeing a Kindle or one of these being read "disturbing." Yes, I used that word. It goes against every part of me.

No, Tina, you're not alone. I prefer the look and feel and experience of a real book over an e-reader.

But, I have a limited amount of space and money. We rely heavily on the library, but you still have to have somewhere to put all of the library books when you have them out. My e-reader (an iPad) saves space, paper and money.

I don't see it as replacing real books at all. I, for one, would very rarely pay for a book to read on my iPad. Right now I have mostly OOP classics, some free magazines and pdf files for homeschooling. I have bought one book so far, and that was the complete - *complete* - works of P. G Wodehouse, for $6. My library doesn't carry his books (such a shame) and they are not in the public domain. I enjoy him very much, and I saved money over having to buy each book used and pay for it plus shipping.

Jenn, I don't find reading a e-reader any more disturbing than using a computer. Or watching TV or movies. I would think that, like anything else, it can be abused by some people. But to say that it is disturbing in general is an interesting way of looking at it, especially as you obviously use a computer.

When our children go to college, they will all have these readers, whether we like it or not. If it can save money and paper on textbooks, I'm all for it.

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JennGM
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Posted: Feb 09 2011 at 6:54pm \| IP Logged

It's not "disturbing" because I think it's wrong, it just goes against my grain.

And I'm not worried about saving paper -- trees are a renewable source. There are some books that I wish were never printed...but as far as switching to Kindle, it will have to be a while. I don't like reading on the computer at all. I know the screen is "different" and easier on the eyes. I'm also a tactile person, and that cannot replace a newspaper and magazine and real book.

I know I'm in the minority. I'm really slow to accept change. I'm reading Clarence Day's "Life with Father" right now. I love watching and reading about eras that went through vast changes. I admit it -- I'm the old fogie that dislikes disruption to what I have now.

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margot helene
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Posted: Feb 10 2011 at 4:26pm \| IP Logged

There was a note posted in my local library that Kindle only reads books purchased at Amazon and therefore will not be able to be used for library books (free stuff). The other readers do read them, however.

I'm wondering about the software that Willa mentions. Does it work on anything? Will a person have to own that software if using a Kindle for things not purchased at Amazon? You don't have to have any other software to read things on the other readers, but I think if you want to convert pdfs you do. Is that right? I have no interest in an electronic reader for myself, but I know many people find it more convenient. Trying to sort the whole business out.

I think the CHC ebooks are pdfs - right?

Willa
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Posted: Feb 12 2011 at 7:23pm \| IP Logged

margot helene wrote:

I'm wondering about the software that Willa mentions. Does it work on anything? Will a person have to own that software if using a Kindle for things not purchased at Amazon? You don't have to have any other software to read things on the other readers, but I think if you want to convert pdfs you do. Is that right? I have no interest in an electronic reader for myself, but I know many people find it more convenient. Trying to sort the whole business out.

I think the CHC ebooks are pdfs - right?

It's true about Kindle not working with library books. That was the main disadvantage for me but I wanted something that could read public domain books -- so I wouldn't have to print out the ones I am reading (I hate sitting at a screen to read a book -- e-readers are way more portable and don't hurt your eyes).

The converting software is free -- though it does have some flaws, I think, because I converted Tom Playfair, which is public domain at Google e-books, and there are some missing parts.

Gutenberg has its public domain books in Kindle format. You don't have to use a converter to read those ones if you buy a Kindle. Also, here is an Amazon list of where you can find free books for Kindle

You can read PDFs on Kindle but the print is very tiny unless you get one of those BIG Kindles that cost a lot mores. Instead, I convert PDFs into Kindle format, so I've been reading papal encyclicals that way.

I saw the Kobo reader is only 99 dollars now -- but I don't know very much about it. I'd love to hear more about what Erin's daughter thinks of it!

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folklaur
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Posted: Feb 12 2011 at 9:12pm \| IP Logged

JennGM wrote:

Tina P. wrote:

I'm right there with you, Tina. I told my husband last night that I find seeing a Kindle or one of these being read "disturbing." Yes, I used that word. It goes against every part of me.

I love books.
I love the way they feel, the way they smell, etc.

With my Nook, I got a cover right along with it, so it feels like I am holding a hardback book in my hands. I don't mind the page thing so much, since now I don't have to worry about bending back a book too much in order to read the left hand page, since it is all on the right side

.

I really was concerned that the screen would tire my eyes, or be similar to a computer screen. It's not. I couldn't believe it until I used it myself. It is just like reading off a page of paper, no glare, no eye strain at all, (plus, when I am feeling like I have old eyes I can make the font bigger if I need too

)

I was shocked at how much I love my Nook.

mama2many
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Posted: Feb 14 2011 at 3:51pm \| IP Logged

oh, i LOVE books as well, but nursing makes it harder to hold them and turn pages w/o breaking my wrist! LOL
Well, dh got me one!! He said eh just wanted me to know how much he appreciated all I do for our family!

So, now to get BOOKS loaded on it!

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Willa
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Posted: Feb 14 2011 at 6:43pm \| IP Logged

mama2many wrote:

Well, dh got me one!! He said eh just wanted me to know how much he appreciated all I do for our family!

That is really sweet!

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aforb001
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Posted: Feb 14 2011 at 7:57pm \| IP Logged

I love books as well, that's why I love my Kindle! To me it's like having the library in my home. I have so much to browse through. I have been reading so much more since I got my Kindle. I take it everywhere.

Adele

Karen T
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Posted: Feb 16 2011 at 2:54pm \| IP Logged

I got a Sony Touch 650 for Christmas. I, too, had resisted the e-readers for quite awhile. Then suddenly last fall they started looking better and better to me. For the last two or three years I have been reading a lot of classics, Dickens, Victor Hugo, etc. Some of these books are long and are often printed in tiny type, which my almost-49 yr old eyes are really resisting now, even with multifocal contacts. You can make the fontsize on the readers anything from tiny to huge. Plus, I often read 3-4 books or more at the same time, and the ability to carry them with me is wonderful. I got the Sony over the others for several reasons.

One, is the library aspect. I use my library a lot (and the Philadelphia Free Library has a huge collection for both audio and e-books, and only cost $15/yr for non-residents). Kindle does not accept the DRM-d epub format.

Two, the Sony has a touch screen and the page turns are done by swiping a finger, much like turning a paperback page.

Three, the e-ink technology makes it reading just like a regular book (kindle and others do have this, but some don't, like the Nook color)

Four, the version of sony I have does NOT have wifi or 3G access. I did not want this b/c I do not want the temptation of instant book buying! Nor do I want anything with a browser on it. (I don't have a smart phone either, my son thinks I'm a dinosaur)

Five, you can make notes in your books and have a file of them at the end. I can also look up any words I don't know, and mine has several English dictionaries as well as Fr, Ger, Span, Ital, and Dutch. I just wish it had Latin as well. In reading Les mis, I have used the French/english dictionary quite a bit.

I haven't stopped reading print books just b/c I have the Reader - some are books I already own, or books in the library which have a longer wait for the e-version, or is not available in that yet. But I've been keeping track, and I've completed 15 books since Jan 1 this year, and more than half of them have been on the reader. Plus, I'm in the midst of Les Miserables now, which is taking a long time but at least I don't have a 4 lb book to lug around!

Willa, I use Calibre also, and while sometimes a problem may occur in conversion, often I have found mistakes in public domain e-books before they are converted. I was reading Les mis and suddenly came to a spot where several hundred pages were missing, and this was an epub that I had not converted at all, from Gutenberg. I went and found another version and it's fine.

I have also used my reader for non-reading things. I don't have a gps, so I print out mapquest maps when driving, but again, my eyes have trouble reading smaller print while driving. I can put the directions in a txt document and then view them at any size font I want.
I've also put some of my knitting patterns on it in pdf format, and I can take these anywhere instead of big pieces of paper.
I used to use a Palm Pilot and tried reading on that, and hated it. This is nothing like that, both b/c of larger screen and the e-ink. It's not backlit at all.

I did a lot of research into the various readers and formats so if anyone has any questions before purchasing one I'd be happy to help.

Karen

Willa
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Posted: Feb 19 2011 at 12:25pm \| IP Logged

Karen T wrote:

For the last two or three years I have been reading a lot of classics, Dickens, Victor Hugo, etc. Some of these books are long and are often printed in tiny type, which my almost-49 yr old eyes are really resisting now, even with multifocal contacts. You can make the fontsize on the readers anything from tiny to huge. Plus, I often read 3-4 books or more at the same time, and the ability to carry them with me is wonderful.

This is true of me, too. Carrying around huge books and trying to make my aging eyes focus on tiny print was getting harder and harder.

Also, I have a lot of my read-alouds on my Kindle and I like to read from several books during a session with my kids, so the reader makes it easy to switch from one book to another without having to flip through stacks and find where we were in the book.

E-readers automatically take you to the last-read page.

I don't think of e-readers as a replacement for "real books" but as a very helpful supplement, especially with regard to old public domain books that are difficult to find in book form.

I can definitely understand Jenn's reaction to e-readers because the first time I saw my brother with one about 4 years ago I felt like it wasn't really reading at all!

Thanks Karen for the info about the incomplete epub books. I'm glad it isn't a flaw with Calibre. And the information about Sony readers is useful because I haven't seen many reviews for that device in comparison with Kindle and Nook.

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Kimmy
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Posted: Feb 21 2011 at 6:32am \| IP Logged

Hi, My name is Kimmy. I am very interested in the Kindle also, love to read!! I don't have one yet but I have looked at them. I really like the text to voice app. I also noticed the price has really dropped since they first came out.

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